Electric target game



L. z. PLEBANEK v 2,404,653 ELECTRIC TARGET GAME .my 2E, w46.

Filed May s, 1944 3 sheets-sheet 41 l mven July 23, 1946.

` .z. PLEBANEK ELECTRIC TARGET GAME Filed lMay 8, 1944 S'Sheets-fSheet 2v f O /////////////////V v n e0 @www uy 23, 39%., L. E. PLEBANEK @4553 ELECTRIC TARGET GAME Filed May 8, 1944 i 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 23, 1946 ELECTRIC TARGET GAlVIE Leonard Z. Plebanek, Chicago, 'Ill., assignor of one-third to Charles Strebel andone-third to Anthony Bird Application May 8, 1944, Serial No. 534,619

9 Claims.

This invention relates to an electric target game in which a target is moved thru space for being fired upon by a beam of light, and concerns itself primarily with a target which is electrically or otherwise controlled so that at a predetermined time or after a predetermined distance of travel or movement such target will cause an attack upon the gunner if he has not been hit himself at such time or distance.

The preferred target consists of a rabbit which is caused to travel a predetermined distance during which the gunner will have an opportunity to hit the rabbit with a beam of light, an action which will illuminate the face of the rabbit, if hit with such beam of light, and indicate to the gunner that a hit has been scored, the rabbit having a target spot for such purpose.

In the event that the rabbit is nothit before travelling a predetermined distance, he will turn and face the gunnerland' raise his own rifle that he is carrying which will be illuminated at its end indicating that a. shot has been fired at the gunner. This shot will be scored and an electric shock will strike the gunner.

The invention comprises the novel structure and combination of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and dened in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the preferred form of this invention together with a modified form and in which similar reference numerals refer to similar features in the different views:

Fig. 1 an elevational view in perspective of an apparatus Vinvolving this invention with parts omitted.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken upon the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows and with parts omitted.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view thru the target attached to the conveyor chain and showing parts in elevation.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the target showing the same in traveling position.

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the target.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of Fig. 3 with parts in elevation.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the wiring diagram of the above apparatus.

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the gunners rie.

Fig. 9 is an elevational view in perspective of a modied form of a feature of the invention.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the gunners rie used in the modified form of apparatus.

Fig. 11 is Ia wiring diagram ofthe modied form of apparatus. l

In referring now to the drawings, especially to Figs. 1 to 8, there is shown a target housing i5 having a target chamber I5a at the'top in which horizontal sprockets I6 (Fig. 2) are suitably mounted in spaced relation around which a conf veyor chain I1 is trained.

Suitable parallel guides I8 extend parallelfto the chain for guiding and assistingin supporting the target I9 which in the present instance is shownras a rabbit. Spaced forwardly from the target housing, there is a coin box 2l) .having a coin slot ZI. An electrical cable 22 connects the coin box with the target housing for supplying the necessary current that is required therein. A second electricalca'ble 23 extends from the coin box to the gunners or players riiie 24 for furnishing the current for the beam of light as is well known Vin the art. The cable 23 also includes suitable shock wires 25 and 26 which are respectively connected to hand pieces 21 and 28.0n the gunners rifle 24, which piecesare suitably insu-. lated from the body `o f the rifle. These hand pieces 21 "and 23 thus are adapted to be energized for imparting a mild electric shock to the gunner under certain conditions as will later more fully appear. Y

The insertion of a coin in the coin box will also close a motor switch for operating a motor 29 for driving the conveyor chain. It might be mentioned that the motor switch may be a well known time switch so that the normal operation of the conveyor chain will be substantially one revolution for each operation. Thus. the target will always be brought to a normal starting position after each operation from a coin.

The rabbit target is shown asa hollow affair which is attached to. a base bearing 3U (Fig. 3) by means of fasteners 3l. This base portion has a? reduced cylindrical portion 32 rotatably mounted in a supporting plate 33 which is attached to the conveyor chain by -a pivot pin 34 and suitable connecting pieces 35 in any suitable manner. The plate 33 carries a plurality of guide rollers 35 located respectively at the end margins for travelling upon rabbit tracks 3l formed in the top margins of the guide rails I8 which may be supported in any suitable manner.

The rabbit may have one or two hind legs 3S pivoted to the body portion as indicated at 39 (Fig. 4) which are adapted to strike a series of pins 4I) extending from one or more of the guide rails I8 to make it appear as though the rabbit were running. The rabbit has two front arms or legs 4l pivoted to the shoulders thereof as indicated at 42. A miniature rifle 43 is pivoted to the ends of the arms as indicated at 44. The forward end of the rifle carries a small lamp 45 connected by wire 46 (Fig. 3) emerging from the wiring inside of the rabbit. The rear front arm of the rabbit carries a pendant rod 4l having a roller 48 at its lower end adapted to engage a cam 49 on the plate 33 when the rabbit is turn= ing thru an angle of about ninety degrees for elevating the front arms and the rifle as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 at which time .the light bulb in the end of the miniature rie will be illuminated as will later more fully appear for making it appear that the rabbit has fired upon the gunner. At the same time, the gunner will be given a shock as will later `be explained.

The rabbit carries a pin l] (Fig. 6) is adapted to strike a latch 5I controlled by a solenoid 52. If the hooked portion of the latch is in the path of the pin 50, the rabbit will be turned ninety degrees and face the gunner before the pin slips past lthe latch. When the pin has slipped past the latch, a coil spring 53 anchored to :the plate 33 at 54 and having a strap 55 partially surrounding the rabbit and attached `to a pin 50 will return the rabbit to his normal position.

When the ,rabbit is turning,.the arms. 4l and rifle "43 -wi'll `be elevated as previously explained and the main electric switch 5B will be closed for energizing the circuit for illuminating the lamp inthe miniature rifle carried by the rabbit and at the same time the relay 51 will be energized for closing switch 58 (Fig."7) and transformer circuit 59.

lWhen the transformer 59 is charged, a vmild shock will be transmitted to the gunner thru wires 25 and 26 which are respectively connected with 'the transformer circuit and the switch 58. The closing of switch '56 also energizes a magnet 6l)Y which .operates a Vcounter 6| for recording the points scored by the rabbit. The switch .56 is adapted "to be closed by a cam .56a on the rabbit when the rabbi-t is turning.

Within the rabbit, there is a photo-electric Ycell 62 'which is adapted 'to be struck by a beam of lightfrom the gunners rifle when said gunner is expert enough to make an accurate shot.` This beam of light, if accurately directed, will pass thru 'an aperture 6.3 in the rabbit. If the gunner makes a :hit thru such aperture before the rabbttravels ya predetermined distance, a circuit 64 (Fig. V'7.) from the photo-electric cell 62 to the solenoid '52 will be established whereby the latch will be ,attracted from the path of the pin 5| yon the rabbit with the result that the rabbit will .not be turned but will continue to travel approximately one revolution when the motor will stop. An amplifier 64a in the circuit of the photo-electric cell may be used to increase the potential delivered to the solenoid.

The idea of firing a beam of light at a photoelectric cell in a Ytarget thru a coin operated electric circuit is old and well known and for this reason, the wir-ing diagram for such has not been fully illustrated. The novelty of this invention is predicated more particularly upon the action of the target and the mild shock to the .gunner and the wiring diagram for illustrating these actions is shown in Fig. 7 as will later .be set forth.

In use, the gunner will insert la coin Vin the machine `and close the motor switch Vfor operating the motor 29 for rotating the conveyor chain and moving the target. He will then take the rifle and attempt to direct a beam of light y thru the aperture 63 in the rabbit for striking the photo-electric cell for scoring Vpoints as `is well known in the art. However if the gunner fails to make a hit before the rabbit reaches the turning point at the latch 5|, the said rabbit will turn ninety degrees as alreadyexplained, an operation which will close the switch 56 for energizing the lamp 45 on the miniature rifle 'indicating that the rabbit has fired at-the gunner. The closing of switch 56 will simultaneously close switch 56B which is connected thereto thru which Ythe vcircuit to lamp 45 is completed. At the same time vsolenoid 5l will be energized for closing switch 53 for imparting a mild shock to the gunner thru wires 25 and 26. At the same time,.the target counter l will be operated for recording the score made by the rabbit. It will be noted that the coil 5@ Ifor operating the solenoid is in circuit with the lamp 45. ln due course, the spring 53 will return therabbit to normal position.

In Figs 9 to l1, there is shown a modified form of a feature of the invention which includes a target housing 63 having Va target image receiving face El adjacent the top thereof upon which is adapted to be projected an image 68 by a projector 69. Supports 'l0 `,extend from the housing -forsupporting the projector 59 together with a -g-un 'lil having spaced handles "H a. The `gun is mountedto be turned 'in azimuth for lsighting on the target. The projector 169 is adapted to be esci-Hated by a small motor 69a as shown in Fig. 11 for moving the target image across the field. Such mechanism is old and well .known and involves no part of this 'invention except as it may co-operate therewith.

vThe invention herein concerns itself more particularly with the feature of imparting a shockto the gunner and registering aV score for the target, if the gunner fails 'to make an imaginary hit before thetarget reaches a predetermined point. To this end, the handles lla, `of the gun have electric conductors 12 associated therewith, each of which is suitably grounded as shown in Fig. l1 and which are connected in parallel relation with an electric conductor 'i3 whichV extends to a stationary switch blade 14. This Aswitchib'lade I4 is normally in open position while the projector E9 oscillates from the right hand limit to the center or during the'time of the travel thru the off position. During this movement, the gunner or player must make an imaginary hit upon the target or else he will receive a mild shock. For when the image moves from the center to the left or thru` the on position, the switch blade 14 will be in circuit with the handles of the rifle. This is brought about by a cam bracket l5 insulated from the projector by insulation 75A and attached to the projector. This cam bracket is designed to operate against a roller 15 which is part of the main switch. The roller 1S is connected to a kstud '.'7 to the ends. of which are secured switch members 78 and 79 the 'former of which is adapted to engage the blade J4 'while the latter is connected with a source of current Bil.

The switch member 75 is .adapted to engage a stationary switch blade 8l which is connected Ito a conductor 82 which in turn extends to a switch member 83 which is adapted to be engaged 1by a movable switch member or blade 84 connected by an insulated pin 85 with a second movable switch member B8 which is adapted to be moved to open' position by a solenoid coil 81 or the like. The coil 81 is connected to a source of energy. The switch blade 86 isvpreferably connected to a transformer `88 for having its potential increased.`

' The switch blade 85 normally engages a contact on a conductor 89 which leadsto the switch member 18 that furnishes the shock current. Themovable switch blade 84 is connected to a conductor 90 leading to solenoid 9| or the like which operates a target counter 02 and which is connected with the source of energy by a conductor 03. The resistance coil 81 is connected by wires 94 and 05 (shown broken) with a switch member 06 and a battery 01 respectively.

The gun 1| is shown in the wiring as movably pivoted at498 and as carrying a contact S adaptedfor engaging a contact |00 carried by the projector 60. A conductor |0| connects the contact |00 with a relay |02 which may be termed the hit relay. The contact 09 is connected by a conductor |03 with a stationary switch blade |04 on the handle of the gun. The switch blade |04 is adapted to be contacted by a movable switch blade |05 which is connected to a conductor |06 leading to a source of energy. A trigger |01 pivoted on the gun handle is adapted to be operated by the gunner or player for closing the switch |0l||05.

The hit relay |02 is also connected to the source of energy. This relay when energized is adapted for attracting a switch member 06 into contact with wire 04 for closing the circuit thru the resistance coil 81.

The motor 69a may be connected by a crank |00 to the projector 69. This motor is shown ccnnected by the electrical conductors ||0 and to a suitable source of energy l |2. The conductor may be provided with a suitable switch H3 which may be coin operated or otherwise. It is merely illustrative of a means for starting the motor.

In practice with reference to the modified form, the gunner will cause the motor switch ||3 to be closed for starting the motor for oscillating the projector B9. During the movement of the projector 60, a target image E0 will be projected upon the receiving surface 61. While this image travels thru the off position, the gunner will sight the gun upon the moving target and pull the trigger |01 for closing the switch |04-I05. Now if the gunner has made an accurate sight when he pulls the trigger |01, the contact 99 on the gun will contact the Contact |00 on the projector E0 for closing the circuit which causes operation of the relay |02. The operation of the relay |02 will close the circuit to the relay B1 which will open switches 84 and 86 for opening the shock circuit and preventing the gunner from receiving a shock. Mechanism for recording the score of the gunner has not been 'shown as it is old and well known and involves no part of this invention except as it may co-operate therewith.

In the event that the gunner fails to make such an imaginary hit which will close the circuit thru contacts 90 and |00 while the image is travelling thru the off position, the switches 18-14 and 10B| will be closed thru the movement of the cam bracket 15 while the image is moving thru the on position. the switch 18--14 will establish the shock circuit thru the handles of the gun for shocking the gunner. The closing of the switch -8I will close the circuit to the magnet 9| for operating The closing oil the target counter-92 for lregistering the score thus made by the target.

Thus in both forms, the apparatus act to give the gunner or player a mild shock if the gunner fails to make an imaginary hit before the target reachesa predetermined point and when this occurs a score is recorded on a counter in behalf of the target. s

It is characteristic of this invention that the gunner or player must make an imaginary shot before lthe `target reaches a certain point and hits` the target orelse he will receive a mild shock and the target will score.

In the form of the invention involving the mechanical rabbit, an effective imaginary shot will cause the rabbits face to be illuminated or as it were, cause'the rabbit to blush. But should the imaginary shot not be eiective, the rabbit will do the extraordinary and turn and simulate a shot at the gunner or player.

The game hence affords exceedingly interesting entertainment and amusement wherein the target can attack the gunner or player and score points as well asthe player.

I am aware that many changes may be made and various'details of construction may be varied without departing from the principles of this invention so I do not propose limiting the patent granted thereon otherwise than necessitatedby the prior art- I claim as my invention:

1. In a game of the class described, a target, means to move said target, a weapon carried by said target, means for causing said target to turn after a predetermined movement under certain conditions and electrical means for causing i1- lumination of the end of said weapon for simulating a shot at substantially the end of the turning movement of said target.

2. In a game of the class described, a target,

" means for moving said target, a weapon carried by said target, means for causing said target to turn after a predetermined movement and elevate said weapon and electrical means for illuminating the end of said weapon for simulating a discharge therefrom at substantially the end of the turning movement of said target.

3. In a game of the` class described, a target, means for moving said target, a Weapon carried by said target, means for moving said target at an angle to the rst movement under certain conditions and simultaneously elevating said weapon, electrical means for illuminating the end of said weapon at substantially the end of said second movement, a target counter and means responsive to said electrical means for operating said counter for recording a target score.

4. In a game of the class described, a target, means for moving said target in space, a weapon carried by said target, a weapon adapted to be trained upon said target for directing al beam of light at a predetermined spot thereon, means for illuminating said target when penetrated by said beam of light, means for turning said target at a predetermined point if said beam of light has not penetrated the same, and means for simulating a discharge from the first weapon at substantially the end of such turning movement.

5. In a game of the class described, a target, means including a gun for simulating a shot at the target, an electrical circuit including shock wires attached to the gun and means for controlling said circuit for passing current thru said 6; In a game of the class described, a target, means for moving said target, means including a gun for simulating a. shot at the target, an electrical circuit including shock Wires connected to said gun, means for controlling said circuit for passing current thru said shock Wires when said simulated shot is not accurately directed, a target counter and means for operating said counter when said shock Vvvres are energized.

7. In a game of the class described, a target comprising a mechanical rabbit, means for moving said rabbit in a predetermined path, said rabbit having a pair of forward arms, a Weapon pivotally supported by said arms, a second Weapon adapted to be manner by a gunner for directing a beam of light at the rabbit, a'device adjacent the path of the rabbit adapted for co-operation With said rabbit for ycausing the rabbit to turn and face the gunner at a predetermined point, means responsive to the striking of said beam of vlight of a target spot on said rabbit before the same reaches saidpredetermined point forrendering said device inoperative and illuminating the face of the rabbit, and means for elevating vthe rabbits Weapon and simulating a shot at the gunner upon the turning movement of the rabbit, in the event that the gunner has'failed.

V8. In a game of the class described, a target comprising a mechanical rabbit, means for causing said rabbit to travel in a predetermined path,l

means for causing said rabbit to turn at a predetermined point under predetermined conditions,

said rabbit having pivotally supported arms, a ring Weapon carried by said arms, and means for causing the elevation of said Weapon and simulating a ring operation upon the turning movement of said rabbit.

9. In a game of the class described, a target comprising a mechanical rabbit having arms and a target spot, arr Weapon carried by said arms, means for causing said rabbit to travel in a predetermined path, a weapon adapted to be manned in the event that he has failed tostrike said target spot.

LEONARD Z. PLEBANEK. 

